Theology in Disputed Space

The course will demonstrate how discourses of theology are employed as combative tools in contentious situations. It will involve an exploration of the inner dynamics of the religious or theological language used in the context of both inter-personal and inter-group disputes. Fragments of doctrinal configurations deployed in these circumstances will be examined in the context of a wider interdisciplinary scope in order to aid our understanding of the structure of these dynamics and our identification of problem areas. Lectures, class participation, assigned readings and term paper.